Why Flee?

UNHCR created a graph detailing the influxing of the refugee population from 2000-2022. This illustrates the number of people that are displaced worldwide as well as internally, the number of refugee's and asylum seekers, and the amount of individuals still in need of international protection.

The UNHCR compiled statistics from annual data dating back to 1951 as well as the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IMDC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

With all this data the UNHCR was able to decipher that 72% of all refugees originate from just five different countries: Syria (6.8 million), Venezuela (5.6 million), Ukraine (5.4 million), Afghanistan (2.8 million), and South Sudan (2.4 million). Additionally, 36% of all refugees are hosted in the following five countries: Turkey (3.7 million), Colombia (2.5 million), Germany (2.2 million), Pakistan (1.5 million), and Uganda (1.5 million).

In coordination with the UNHCR data, the Humanitarian Information Unit (HIU) made an informational graph, displaying the top ten countries tof origin for refugees.

What was happening in these countries?

SYRIA:

In March of 2011, the Syrian government was beginning a violent crackdown in response to the anti-government graffiti done by several teenages. These individuals were arrested, which sparked public demonstrations and even further violence by the government security forces. This created the foundation for a civil war, one that is still ongoing today, which forced millions of Syrians to flee their homes. In this twelve year long civil war, more than 15.3 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance (UNHCR, 2023).

VENEZUELA:

In 2014, Venezuela faced an economic collapse which led to widespread violence and lack of economic opportunity. In the aftermath of this collapse, there have been numerous safety concerns, human rights abuses, hunger, and high inflation that has forced more than 4 million Venezuelans to have fled (UNHCR, 2019).

UKRAINE:

On February 24, 2022 a war broke out in Ukraine, as a result of the invasion of the Russian Federation. This war has involved missile and rocket attacks which has led to the destruction of homes, businesses, and energy sources. This, in turn, has left Ukrainians with limited "access to water, electricity, heating, health care, education, and social protection" (UNHCR, 2022). In 2023, a projected 17.6 million individuals are going to be in need of humanitarian assistance.

AFGHANISTAN:

Afghanistan has faced more than 40 years of conflict, whether that be from natural disasters, poverty, food insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic, or changes in government authorities. Most recently, the Taliban has taken over Kabul in 2021 which has only increased instability and violence. Roughly 6 million Afghans have been displaced by the end of 2021 (UNHCR, 2022).

SOUTH SUDAN:

South Sudan, although a new country as of 2011, faced another conflict in 2013 that has caused several situations of deadly violence, economic decline, disease, and hunger. Roughly 4 million refugees have been displaced since 2013, becoming the largest refugee crisis in Africa (UNHCR, 2019).

REFERENCES

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, U. N. H. C. R. (2022). "Refugee Statistics". UNHCR.

USA for UNHCR. 2023. "Syria refugee crisis explained". How to Help Refugees - Aid, Relief and Donations.

USA for UNHCR. 2022. "Ukraine emergency: Aid, statistics and news: USA FOR UNHCR". Ukraine Emergency: Aid, Statistics and News.

USA for UNHCR. 2019. "Venezuela crisis explained." How to Help Refugees - Aid, Relief and Donations.